Baby Gray Seal Rescued From Downtown New Haven Street, Miles From Ocean

A baby gray seal that was found in downtown New Haven, Conn., on Sunday — miles away from the ocean — is recovering, and rescuers are hopeful he may be returned to the wild.

The baby male gray seal was found on Chapel Street in downtown New Haven on Sunday. A photo shared by the New Haven Police Department shows the out-of-place seal in the middle of the street.

“Meet the newest addition to the department!” police joked alongside the photo. With assistance from police and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection personnel, the Mystic Aquariums Animal Rescue Program rescued the seal pup and brought him back to the aquarium for treatment and rehabilitation.

“Mystic Aquarium is pleased to have rescued this misdirected young seal in need of help, and looks forward to hopefully returning the seal back to the ocean in the months ahead,” Allison Tuttle, Mystic Aquarium’s Chief Zoological Officer, said in a statement. “We are proud to provide marine mammal response, rescue, and rehabilitation for the state of Connecticut, and help marine animals in need.”

The seal pup is estimated to be just a few weeks old, but weighed just 28 pounds when he was rescued, significantly below the typical newborn weight of around 35 pounds. Veterinarians at the aquarium say the seal pup was lethargic and dehydrated.

Because seal pups typically nurse on high-fat milk for around three weeks after birth, caregivers are providing fluids, until they can switch to a dilute fish formula that will help him grow.

“The goal for this seal, along with every other rescued marine mammal and sea turtle patient, is to release the seal back to its ocean home once he is healthy and strong,” the aquarium said.

Gray seals are federally protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Adult male gray seals can weigh up to 880 pounds and can reach up to 10 feet long.